Academic Honesty

What?

We agree to be completely honest in all our dealings, including class assignments and tests. This means we don't plagiarize material, fabricate or falsify information, or cheat.

Why?

Being truthful with ourselves and others is a principle of the gospel of Jesus Christ and a central feature of the CES Honor Code. When we are honest in all things, we promise to obey all of these principles fully without compromises. Besides being dishonest, cheating on your schoolwork hurts others, reduces the confidence in receiving a fair education, and greatly reduces personal growth and abilities.

Related Topics

Plagiarism

Intentional plagiarism is the deliberate act of representing the words, ideas, or data of another as one’s own without providing proper attribution to the original author through quotation, reference, or footnote.

Inadvertent plagiarism involves the inappropriate, but non-deliberate, use of another’s words, ideas, or data without proper attribution. Although not a violation of the Honor Code, it is a form of academic misconduct for which an instructor can impose appropriate academic sanctions. Students who are in doubt as to whether they are providing proper attribution have the responsibility to consult with their instructor and obtain guidance.

Plagiarism may occur with respect to unpublished as well as published material. Examples include:

Direct Plagiarism: the verbatim copying of an original source without acknowledging the source

Paraphrased Plagiarism: the paraphrasing of ideas from another without attribution, causing a reader to mistake these ideas for the writer’s own

Plagiarism Mosaic: the borrowing of words, ideas, or data from an original source and blending this original material with one’s own writing, without acknowledging the source

Insufficient Acknowledgment: the partial or incomplete attribution of words, ideas, or data from an original source

Fabrication/Falsification

Fabrication or falsification occurs when a student invents or distorts the origin or content of information used as authority. Examples include:

Citing a source that does not exist

Citing information from a source that is not included in the source for which credit is given

Citing a source for a secondary proposition that it does not support

Citing a bibliography source when it was neither consulted nor cited in the body of the paper

Intentionally distorting the meaning or applicability of data

Inventing data or statistical results to support conclusions

Cheating

A student cheats when he or she attempts to give the appearance of a level of knowledge or skill that has not been obtained. Examples include:

Copying from another person’s work during an examination or while completing an assignment

Allowing someone to copy work that is not his or her own during an examination or while completing an assignment

Using unauthorized materials during an examination or while completing an assignment

Collaborating on an examination or assignment without authorization

Taking an examination or completing an assignment for another, or permitting another to take an examination or to complete an assignment that is not his or her own

Other Academic Misconduct

Other academic misconduct includes other academically dishonest, deceitful, or inappropriate acts which are intentionally committed. Examples include:

Inappropriately providing or receiving information or academic work so as to gain unfair advantage over others

Planning with another to commit any act of academic dishonesty

Attempting to gain an unfair academic advantage for oneself or another by bribery or by any act of offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting anything of value to another for such purpose

Changing or altering grades or other official educational records

Obtaining or providing to another a test or answers to a test that has not been administered

Breaking and entering into a building or office for the purpose of obtaining unauthorized materials

Continuing work on an examination or assignment after the allocated time has elapsed

Submitting the same work for more than one class without disclosure and approval

Getting equal credit on group assignments when equal work was not done

Procedures for Handling Academic Misconduct

Instructors are responsible to establish and communicate to students their expectations of behavior with respect to academic honesty and conduct in the course. The instructor will be responsible to investigate any incident of academic dishonesty or misconduct, determine the circumstances, and take appropriate action. Examples of appropriate action include but are not limited to the following:

Reprimanding the student orally or in writing

Requiring work affected by the academic dishonesty to be redone

Administering a lower or failing grade on the affected assignment, test, or course

Refer student to the Student Honor Office. The Student Honor Office will complete an independent investigation and take appropriate action. If the incident involves violation of a public law, e.g., breaking and entering into an office or stealing an examination, the act should be reported to University Security.

Both suspected and proven violations of the Academic Honesty Policy should be reported to the Student Honor Office, detailing the name, incident, and action taken. If the occurrence is sufficiently egregious, or if a pattern of dishonesty or misconduct is discovered, the Student Honor Office may take additional action, based upon the nature of the violation.

If a student disagrees with the determination or action and is unable to resolve the matter to the mutual satisfaction of the student and the instructor, he or she may have it reviewed through the university’s grievance process (See Student Academic Grievance Policy).